New guidance on how to manage at MOT test centre has been issued by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

The DVSA warns that people involved in running an MOT test centre must ensure the tests meeting the standards it sets, including having appropriate management systems, checks for the quality of the tests themselves and of the facilities and equipment in use, and understanding the centre’s risk rating.

DVSA introduced a new approach to risk rating in late 2018, using data from MOT centres to assess monthly which sites and testers it needs to pay most attention to, potentially leading to an enforcement check.

Under the new guidance, centres must inform DVSA if they wish to make physical changes to the site, or to the layout, including any like-for-like changes to fixed test equipment.

The guidance also reminds centres that they must keep records of any repairs made to equipment, maintenance schedules, calibration certificates and have a written process, understood by staff, of what to do if a piece of equipment breaks.

And following the introduction of GDPR last year, DVSA reminds MOT station managers they need to conduct regular checks that employees are processing data correctly, and are keeping the DVSA system secure by not sharing their login and ensuring they sign out after finishing testing.

The full guidance is here at the DVSA website.

A DVSA spokesman said: "At DVSA, our priority is to help everyone keep their vehicle safe to drive. Making sure that MOT testers carry out every MOT test to the highest possible standard plays a vital role in this. And to do that, MOT managers need access to good guidance about managing MOT centres effectively.

"That’s why we’ve just published a new guide setting out 15 important points. It’s vital reading for authorised examiners (AEs), AE designated managers and site managers."